Budget With 0 Percent Tax Increase Passed By Westfield Council

WESTFIELD, NJ — Good news for Westfield homeowners as the Council unanimously approved the 2024 municipal budget with a 0 percent municipal tax increase on Tuesday night.

Mayor Shelley Brindle called the $53 million budget "one of the most sound budgets in town history which delivers numerous benefits to taxpayers."

"When I was first sworn into office in 2018, I committed to being a strong fiscal steward for the town and am proud to have delivered an average 1.2 percent tax rate since then, well below the average 3.7 percent rate of inflation over that same period," said Brindle. "And this year, we are delivering a zero percent tax rate for only the second time in history, the first time being in 2019, my second year in office."

The flat tax rate was due in part to the Town performing well in 2023, in large part due to reserves, healthy tax collections, investment income, improved revenues, and the settlement with Senior Housing, according to Councilwoman Linda Habgood during the March 26 Council meeting.

The $53,380,475 budget takes into account the average assessed home in Westfield for 2024 at $820,900, which is up from $812,800 in 2023.

Brindle also highlighted some items in this year's budget:

• Investments in public safety, infrastructure improvements, automation and personnel to deliver exceptional public service to our residents
• Investments in playing fields, stormwater resiliency and drainage, crime prevention, pedestrian safety and walkways, speeding enforcement, & more
• $8.75M remaining surplus balance and AAA bond rating
• Increase in your property values as the average Westfield home was assessed at $812K in 2023 and is now >$821K, adding $75M in ratables

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